World T20: Bangladesh, Zimbabwe win respective warm-up games

Dhaka: Hosts Bangladesh and Zimbabwe won their respective warm-up matches ahead of the upcoming ICC World T20 with Hong Kong beating four-time World Cup participants The Netherlands.

Bangladesh beat Ireland by 44 runs in a one-sided encounter in which skipper Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib al Hasan blasted unbeaten half-centuries. Bangladesh scored 179 for three and then restricted Ireland to 135 for eight.

Rahim scored 59 off 30 balls with eight fours and two sixes while Shakib smashed seven boundaries and a six in a 32-ball 58. The duo added 116 runs in 9.5 overs for the third wicket.

In another match, opener Hamilton Masakadza struck seven sixes en route his 52-ball 93 to anchor a successful run-chase against Afghanistan. The Afghans scored 168 for six in 20 overs while Zimbabwe scored the runs with three balls to spare.

The surprise of the day was Hong Kong, who beat The Netherlands by 27 runs. Hong Kong were all out for 127 in 19.5 overs as Mark Chapman top-scored with 50. In reply, The Netherlands were all out for 100 in 16.5 overs as seamer Haseeb Amzad grabbed six for 21.

In the fourth warm-up game of the day, United Arab Emirates comfortably defeated Nepal by six wickets. While Nepal scored a paltry 95, UAE scored the runs with seven balls to spare.